Improvement in tool-handles



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EDWIN L. ABERCROMBIE, 0F FLORENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

LettersPatent No. 102,075, dated April 19,1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOOL-HANDLES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part 0f theSame.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, 'EDWIN L. ABERCROMBIE,of Florence, in the count-y of Hampshire, and State rif-Massachusetts,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tools; and I do herebydeclare that the followingr is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying spade, pick, hoe,bush-cutter, and many others of that class; and I It consists of a heador holder-having a suitable socket to receive the handle, and also othersuitable sockets in which to secure the different tools by mea-ns of theshanks made thereon inA connection with a key or wedge.

In the drawings- Figure lis a longitudinal section of the h'ead orholder, having secured thereon an axe and a pick Figure 2 shows aspadehaving a shank made to fitthe longitudinal socket made in the sameholder;

Figure 3 is a front view of an adze having a shank to t its socket inthe same head.

` Figure 4 is a side view of the same shank;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the same holder, having apinch-bar therein Figure 6 is a front and side view of a. claw fordrawing spikes;

Figure is a side view of a bush-cutter, having a shank adapted to thesame holder and Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of the holder.

That others skilled in the art may be able to make and use my invention,I will proceed to describe its construction and the mode of itsoperation. l

In fig. ll, A represents the axe, having the shank b, upon the end ofwhich is the projection (lf. y

D represents the head or holder, which is made of suitable metal, andhaving a socket, d, therein for the reception of the handle, said socketbeing somewhat larger in diameter at the inner eudthan at the outer end.

Extending transversely through the head or part D, is a. rectangularsocket, b', as shown in iig. 8,v and into this socket is inserted theshank b, the projection a extending up into the longitudinal socket orspace c, the said shank l) being of a size to t properly the said socketb. Y

Any two of the tools having the shank b and projection a thereon may beinserted in the socket 11', one

from cach side, and the wedge or key C is then forced in tightly, andthe tools are secured firmly in the holder, as shown in fig. l.

Some tools, such as the spade, shovel, pinch-bar,.

claw, hoe, and some others, may have a straight rectangular shank, c',of a size to tit properly the socket c. and have a hole, e, or a slottherein, so that when the said shank c is inserted ntothe socket c, apin or key may be inserted in the said bar or slot, and shall 4have abearing against the shoulder or part a', and they may thus be securelyheld in place.

To secure the handle iirmly in place in the socket d it is onlynecessary to split the end ot the handle slightly, andv just insert awedge, leaving it projecting out from the handle somewhat, and then, theend ot' the handle being of a size to'j ust tit closely the outer end ofthe socket d, the handle is driven in smartly, and, the outer end of thewedge being driven down against the inner end ot' the socket il, thewedge is forced into the handle, which causes the handle to spreadlaterally and till the socket d, which being largest at the inner end7prevents the handle from vbecoming loose in its socket. After the handleis secured in the socket, I am enabled by my improvement to use almostany kind of tool in the holder, changing or removing them at pleasure.

If desirable, I can use only one tool in the holder by using inconnection with it a shank having no tool thereon, merely using thesimple shank for the purpose of iilliug out the socket b'. rIhis wouldbe an advantage in performing many kinds ot' labor, such as mining, whenone pick mightbe used while the other was beingsharpened.

A recess is formed in the head D at c", in which the end of the straightshank c' has its'bearing to keep it firm when secured in place in theholder D; but this recess c" is not essential when it is desired to usetools -having the shank` b thereon,and a holder might be made toaccommmlate tools having the shank l),

'itnesses T. A. Gnarls, C. E. BUCkLANn.

